2005 Malama i ka 'Aina award

Nancy Snow, Nursery Manager of Kula Hardware and Nursery, was recently awarded the Third Annual Malama i ka 'Aina Award for her efforts to prevent coqui frogs from being introduced into Maui County via nursery shipments. The award annually recognizes landscape professionals whose practices are helping to protect Maui County from invasive plants and animals. It is sponsored by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP) and the County of Maui. The award was presented during MALP's Lawn & Garden Fair at the Maui Tropical Plantation this past Saturday.

Snow has been with the nursery for over ten years and has spent a majority of that time as nursery manager. She is in charge of choosing and ordering plants throughout the state including the Big Island. Unfortunately, the Big Island has large infestations of coqui frogs, leaving Maui vulnerable to imported shipments containing coqui frog hitchhikers. To combat this problem, Snow only orders from nurseries that she trusts and feels confident that they are coqui-free.

She also takes her customer's concerns into consideration. "I have enough people that'll call me and they want to be assured that the plants that they buy are coqui-free. So I want to let people know that we're a coqui-free nursery," said Snow. Kula Hardware and Nursery takes many precautions to minimize the importation of invasive plants and animals. The public can support nurseries like this by checking to see if they are coqui-free.

During the award ceremony, Joylynn Oliveira, Public Relations & Education Specialist for MISC, presented the award. Rob Parsons, Maui County's Executive Assistant for Environmental Concerns read a proclamation from Mayor Arakawa in honor of Snow's contributions. She received the Malama i ka 'Aina Award plaque, annual membership in MALP, and complimentary compost from Eko Compost.

For more information about the Malama i ka 'Aina Award call 573-MISC (6473) or write to miscpr@hawaii.edu.